OTHELLO — The Othello Huskies boys basketball team got off to a slow start and never caught back up in an 88-49 loss to Prosser on Friday in Othello. The Huskie girls basketball team made a run but ultimately lost to Prosser 73-36.

Both the Othello girls and boys came back with good efforts against Ephrata on the road Saturday, but both games ended in a loss. Ephrata defeated the Othello girls 67-42, and the Othello boys lost to Ephrata 66-51.

Boys coach Roman Pruneda said the Huskies have been struggling with inconsistency.

“We were able to put together a better overall performance as a team Saturday, but we still need to figure out how to put together four quarters,” Pruneda wrote in answer to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “We have lapses that have been detrimental to us and we dig ourselves into a hole that is tough to fight out of.”

Assistant Coach Fernando Huerta said Friday that the lapse was right at the beginning of the game.

“I think our guys came out flat tonight,” Huerta said. “From the get-go, we couldn’t get our offense going. They’re really scrappy on defense - that’s a good team over there, they’re well coached. But our guys just came out flat. It didn’t seem like they wanted to play, and they just weren’t ready come game time. Once I finally saw them get ready, we were already down 20 and that was just too late.”

Huskie girls head coach Steven Harris said Friday his team had to replace three starters and his players are still learning as a result. 

“We are a somewhat inexperienced team. We’re not young but we do have girls that have not played any or much varsity basketball in the past,” Harris said. “Some of these girls are still learning to play varsity basketball.”

Harris said turnovers played a role in Othello’s loss to Prosser.

“One difficulty we had tonight was with turnovers. If we can take care of the ball better that will benefit us in the future,” he said.

Othello didn’t give up, he said.

“I liked our effort tonight. Prosser is an elite team, so it was always going to be tough, but I am proud of the girls and the way they fought.”

The Othello girls are 1-11 on the season; they play East Valley tonight. The Othello boys are 5-9 and also play East Valley tonight. Both games are in Othello.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].

    Othello’s Josh Tovar (22) forces the pace against Prosser Friday.
  

    Ashton Pruneda (15) splits the defense for Othello.
  

    Othello’s Riley Farman (34) fights her way to the basket against Prosser Friday.
  

    Josh Tovar (22) puts up the shot against Prosser Friday.